Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said that pension reform would be implemented step-by-step and that Ukrainians will be able to choose their retirement age at the first stage.
"Lately, I have been thinking about the gradual implementation of pension reform," he said during a meeting with the regional media in Kyiv on April 21.
The premier also said that it would likely be possible for people to choose their retirement age: "I mean at the first stage, which will continue for two to three years, while the situation is more or less stable, we could propose a voluntary increase in the retirement age. If you want to retire at the age of 57 years old, you may work until 57 and you will receive respective incentives," he said.
"And later we will have to switch to an obligatory [retirement age]," Azarov added.
He also said that the term of increase of the retirement age for women would probably be extended by 10 to 15 years.
